Japan officially set up a space crew to monitor space debris

In order to adapt to the new security environment as soon as possible, we must build a system of space situation monitoring as soon as possible, Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono told the team flag awarding ceremony. The first important thing is personnel training. I hope to cooperate with the U.S. military and Japan Aerospace Research and development institutions, said Asahi Junying, the leader of the space corps and the second-class air force assistant (equivalent to the air force commander)

The main mission of Japans cosmonaut team is to monitor meteorites, artificial satellites and space debris. At present, the size of the force is 20, which may be further expanded in the future. The first step is to expand the size to 70.

The newly established force will use the radar built in Onoda City, Shanyang, Shankou county to monitor the geostationary orbit with an altitude of about 36000 kilometers, carry out the task of protecting the artificial satellite from the threat of garbage, and strive to launch its own space surveillance satellite by 2026. The Japanese government is improving its orbit monitoring system, which uses ground-based high-performance radars and optical telescopes to monitor space, and is expected to officially put into use from 2023,

This is the first time that Japan has set up a force specialized in space surveillance. The defense ministry will work with the U.S. military and Japan Aerospace Research and Development Agency (JAXA) to build an information sharing system.

Japan originally planned to set up a special space force in 2022, but with the U.S. military advancing the construction of the space force, Japans defense ministry will advance its plan to create a space force to 2020.